Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum issued the following statement in response to the capture of 88 Eritrean Christians in Libya by ISIS from a people-smugglers’ caravan.

“The latest round of attacks on innocent Christians in Libya is yet another reminder that we need to combat and defeat this escalating global threat,” he said. “While the Obama Administration is content on fighting a PR battle, ISIS is intent on fighting a real war against those who oppose their efforts to establish a radical Islamist caliphate. We must finally support our allies throughout the region – from Jordan to Egypt to the Kurds – with aid that can be used directly on the battlefield, as well as actually utilizing our military force to destroy this enemy. My Administration will do just that, but steps must be taken to defeat ISIS now before this global jihadist movement escalates further.”